Two friends reach out across the Atlantic to discuss the state of America. From Germany to California and back: Mike is a professor at Stanford, Johannes is a journalist from Berlin. Can American Democracy be saved? Where are the United States coming from, and where is it all headed? Politics & History in the Age of Donald Trump: Welcome to The Americanist Podcast! Email us at theamericanistpod@gmail.com (Cover Art: Flickr / Nicolas Raymond / flickr.com/82955120@N05/ CC BY 2.0)
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Right before the 2024 US Elections, Mike has some good news for all Kamala Harris Democratic supporters: Some last-minute polling (source: "the internet") indicates that the Trump camp might be in trouble. Really? Can Harris really reverse her negative October trend? And can Joe Biden please not say anything anymore, at least publicly? This and more German-American banter and garbage - including swastikas - in the latest episode of THE AMERICANIST PODCAST.
The Americanist is a podcast about US politics and history in the Trump era. American democracy is under attack. A German historian/journalist and an American scholar try to make sense of it all. A transatlantic therapy session of sorts.
Rate and subscribe to our show wherever you listen and email us at theamericanistpod@gmail.com!
Mentioned in the show:
Kamala Harris sees surge with Black male voters (Yahoo News)
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Raining Cats and Dogs on Trump's Parade: Kamala Harris Wins Debate
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
On the day after the Harris-Trump debate, Mike and Johannes talk about how Kamala Harris set up a trap for the Republican candidate Donald Trump - and how he happily stepped into it. Will Harris' resounding victory in their possibly only presidential debate translate into November's election? The podcast's statistical powerhouse Mike disects the latest polling numbers as well as Kamala Harris' upside with Democratic voters. Also, there are way too many cats references, but, ah well, meow.
Mentioned in the show:
https://www.nytimes.com/news-event/times-siena-poll-coverage
Friday Aug 23, 2024
Walz #2 - Does Coach Tim Walz Strike the Right Chord for Democrats?
Friday Aug 23, 2024
Friday Aug 23, 2024
Kamala Harris' running mate Tim "Coach" Walz has introduced himself to the Democratic party at their Chicago convention. But can he energize them enough so they can beat Trump and the Republicans in November? Mike shares his thoughts on the importance of having a good coach in American life, high school and beyond - and Johannes remembers his time on a Californian shooting range. Anything but a peaceful retreat: this week's episode of The Americanist Podcast.
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Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
Can Kamala Harris Beat Donald Trump?
Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
After a two-year hiatus, The Americanist crew is back. Just in time so that Johannes and Mike can discuss Kamala Harris' nomination as a presidential candidate 2024 and Joe Biden's resignation from the campaign. Too little too late? Or can the Democratic party save its chances and prevent another Trump term? And what ever happened to JD Vance? While Mike is still reluctant to stare down his demons, Johannes has watched some FOX & Friends to gently slap his liberal friend awake.
Mentioned in the show
- German judo coach slaps athlete: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C13gm-hhCZA
- Walt Whitman, Song of Myself, 43 https://poets.org/poem/song-myself-43
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Thursday Feb 10, 2022
Why are Urban and Rural America so Divided? (#23)
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
Since the United States were founded, its urban population has risen from 5 % to over 80 %. Yet its political institutions remain the same. Mike and Johannes discuss this issue, the American obsession with suburbia, and how to possibly move forward. Also, what would actually happen if you took 5 % of Californians and move them to Wyoming?
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Mentioned in the show:
Urban vs rural populations (1790-2010)
William Penn and Philadelphia's City Grid
"Saints & Strangers" (Netflix)
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
How I Met Muhammad Ali (#22)
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
Muhammad Ali would have turned 80 this week. What does he mean for us today? Mike talks about how Ali came up several times in his American history class, how impressed he is by his reinvention of identity, while struggling with his narcissistic side. Johannes shares the story how he met Ali in person, when he came to Germany to pull off his famous magic yet again...
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Mentioned in the show:
„I am Ali“ Documentary
https://www.amazon.de/I-Am-Ali-Muhammad/dp/B00O9HY402
Billy Crystal Eulogy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XB3sD9QJCI
„Facing Ali“ Documentary
https://www.amazon.com/Facing-Ali-George-Chuvalo/dp/B002Z8CW60
„Ein Held, wie aus der Tragödie“ (German interview)
https://www.arte-magazin.de/ein-held-wie-aus-der-tragoedie/
Monday Dec 20, 2021
#21 Hopes & Highlights - End of Year Pod 2021
Monday Dec 20, 2021
Monday Dec 20, 2021
Mike and Johannes look back on their highlights from 2021 and share their thoughts and outlook on what they are planning for and hoping to achieve in 2022. Thanks for listening to THE AMERICANIST in the past twelve months. Happy holidays everyone!
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Sunday Oct 31, 2021
#20 The Good News Special
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
As we've talked plenty EU/US crisis in past episodes, the October episode of THE AMERICANIST PODCAST is all about good news! From COVID-19 booster vaccination shots to more regional supply chains and the upcoming German coalition government.
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Further Reads:
mRNA technology being used in other applications:
Thursday Sep 09, 2021
#19 9/11 - Where We Were, Where We Are
Thursday Sep 09, 2021
Thursday Sep 09, 2021
20 years after the terrorist attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001, Mike and Johannes remember their personal 9/11 stories, where they were and how this day has changed life in the United States and in Europe.
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Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
#18 Joe Biden’s First 130+ Days in Office
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
In the latest episode of THE AMERICANIST Podcast, Mike updates Johannes on the first 130+ days (yeah, we missed the other one) of Joe Biden's presidency: What has been achieved, what is missing, and can America possibly heal and how? All on how Number 46 is doing ... and the usual nonsense in between ... in episode #18.
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